Day 28 - Overcoming Pain

I have refused to go into too much detail about the physical pain, dehydration, the lack of sleep and soaring temperatures of the walk. I can honestly tell you that I just try and forget that they even exist and have only believed in the positive emotions that this walk has brought.

Morning chats - love the pose and get up of bottom left.

However there was always going to be that one brutally tough day that tests you. Today tested that pain threshold as a shooting pain developed in my left leg.

Flowing into the Kaveri. I wonder how sick you would get with a sampler?

17km more of this! As soon as this thought crept into my head I decided to sit down, regroup and eat 4 omelettes. Appetite still there. Good sign.

Indian Coffee with 7 teaspoons of sugar

I picked myself back up and began to hobble and wince my way to Erode. The devil continuously dangled that forbidden fruit in front of my face to quit - whether it be a car, motorbike or a cow and cart - anything you could think possible approached me and asked if I wanted a lift.

A smart man would of probably eaten the fucking Apple. However, I was determined to get to Erode - curious to know how I was going to respond to pain.

Get back on the road you pussy

I could only laugh as I began to think about what the diagnosis I would have received by a rugby league team doctor.

"Tom, it's a slightly sprained ankle. Get back on the field you pussy."

Coconuts always a life saver

I then began to think of a Lleyten Hewitt monologue in an over dramatised sporting montage. As a self confessed sporting tragic something I would completely froth on.

"You fight. Fight for every point. People don't remember quitters. They will remember me for scraping my way to another 5th set and keeping them up till 3am. You don't lie down and quit now...you relish it."

It then cuts to a trademark "C'mon" on an opponent's double fault. A true Australian sporting legend.

"Fight for every point"

Pain is a complex human phenomenon that intrigues me with our varying ability to cope/respond - whether it be physical or emotional pain.

We all have our painful moments - it is how you respond to them that shapes the person who you are.

We can't live a pain free life - it's impossible. Pleasure is easy! The big question is what pain are you willing to endure to reach the good shit. We are naturally pain avoiding creatures - the problem is when you are running away from pain is that you're still in pain.

No complaints..

Getting awesome at dealing with the negative is getting awesome at dealing with life. It's easy to fall into the trap of idealising about the perfect life without making the sacrifices you need to make - it is a common complexity for our generation.

Pain, and in particular emotional pain, is so completely unique to the circumstance and individual - however you are always more resilient than what you believe - it is just up to you to see the world in a new light.

"Loves a scrap"

For the next 15km - I just focused on my breath and that at the end would be the reward ... rest. As the 6 hours of pain drew ever so near I felt a true sense of accomplishment that will forever give me greater confidence in myself to overcome any obstacle. Except tripping over as that shit always hurts.